(BEDFORD) - What was not a fashion statement by one individual for several years is now becoming history.

The orange and yellow homes on 16th Street are being painted. Kevin Mesendiek owns the homes and after fighting with city officials he was unable to put a car auto parts store in their place. It was then Mesendiek decided to paint the houses in protest.

For years, Mesendiek fought with the city trying to use a petition with over 2,200 names saying they approved the new construction. Another petition with only 135 names was used saying they disapproved the change.

Mesendiek says the original petition was lost in the courts, but he used copies to prove his point. He has spent nearly $35,000 of his own money and appealed his case to the Indiana Supreme Court. Mesendiek says he never stepped foot in any of the courtrooms as the cases were considered.

Mesendiek says the people of Bedford have been good to him, city officials have not. Mesendiek is painting and renovating the homes himself and is planning to leave with his fiancée after the job is done.

The pair is considering heading to North Carolina, Florida or California.